Car-coupling



(No Model.) I

A. FROMMANN 8U P. ENCK.

Patented Oct. 19, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

ALBERT FROMMANN AND PHILIPP ENCK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COU'PLING.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. `591,919, dated October 19, 1897.

Application led October 19, 189.6. Serial Nm 609,340. (No model.)

Tc L'Z whom it 11m/y con/067%:

Be it known that we, ALBERT FROMMANN and PHILIP? ENCK, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers, of which the following is a speciiication.

Our invention relates to a car-coupler having certain novel features of construction by which we obtain a very positive coupling or connecting device for railroad or other cars and which permits the operation of coupling or uncoupling to be performed with comparative ease and safety.

The details of construction of the coupler are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will hereinafter be particularly described.

In the drawings, lFigure l is a perspective view of the end portions of two carsy having a coupler embodying our improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view, enlarged, of the coupler, showing the parts as when connected to-v gether, the surrounding portions being removed to more clearly show details. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of same with one of the car-bodies dropped below the level of the other, and Fig. 4 is a modification showing the coupler in sectional elevation with the parts as in position during operation of uncoupling.

The present invention, broadly or collect` ively speaking, consists, essentially, of two members, one an arrow-headed or cuneiform draw-head, and the other a double-hooked head which engages projections on the iirst member when the heads arecoupled. These members, which are classified each as whole as X and Y, respectively, are located on opposite ends of cars, for instance, as shown in Figs. l and 3, A A there representing freightcar bodies. a refers to the general framework, and a a2 are the end sills or plates. While we have only shown the coupler as applied to a freight-car, it is readily to be perceived without further illustration, or with but minor changes, that the invention may be used on any well-known type of car for passengers, freight, street-railroads, 85o.

The features in detail of the members X and Y and adjacent parts are as follows:

The draw-headX when viewed from above resembles van arrow-head, and consists of a pointed wedge having preferably curved vertical sides az" when Y. the head is in a horizontal position. The rear of the wedge is of greater width than the stem or neck x2, so as to provide shoulders or outwardly-projecting hooks w3, which serve to engage opposite hooks on Y. The head X is hinged orv attached pivotally to the draw-bar B, and this is preferably accomplished by using a leaf or tongue b, pivoted or jointed at b and b2. The head X moves vertically when operated by suitable means and may be turned up. We have shown for this purpose arod C, having handles c and an arm c', which is provided with a tie, such as a chain c2, attached t0 the outer end of the head X. By operating the handle c the head X may be turned up for uncoupling or may be placed in such position as desired.

Y is the double-hooked draw-head, which consists of two long arms or bars y y. The inner portions of these arms -serve the purpose of draw-bars and are pivotally attached to the car or a part thereof at y. The arms of Y are curved or bent outward at y2 y2 and have inturned or inwardly-projecting hooks or catches g3g/3 near outer extremities. These hooks have curved or outwardly-receding sides .fj/4 g4. A space Z is formed between the two arms of Y.

D D are'transverse springs bearing against the arms g] y, and d is a rod or tie with! nuts d CZ. for retaining springs in position.

The arms y y are permitted to open laterally with .the hooks-that is, they are pivoted so as to move horizontally apart against pressure of the springs D D, which tend to bring the arms together.

E refers as a whole toa keeper for preventing the disengagement of the heads X and Y when coupled by either part slipping up or down from the other. This keeper has two horizontal movable ngers e., one above and below the head Y, the said fingers being attached 'or mounted on a short shaft or spindle e', which passes through and has a bearing in a part of the head Y, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. A short arm e2 is attached to the keeper near the pivotal point of fingers, and connected to the arm e2 are two transverse rods e3, mounted on the end of car. By op- IOO erating either of the rods e3 the fingers e may be turned in or out of the Way for retaining engagement of or allowing disengagement of the coupling-heads.

F F are buers placed centrally beneath the coupler. These buers are mounted on heavy metal brackets f f, secured to the framework of cars. These brackets have openings or slots f f', which serve as housings or supports for the draw-barportions of the coupler. While the buffers constructed or arranged as shown are a valuable. adjunct to the coupler, serving to lessen shock or prevent injury during the operation of coupling, they are not absolutely essential to the invention.

All the parts of the coupling-heads are preferably made of malleable iron or of soft steel, with ample pins of steel for the joints.

The operation of the coupler is as follows: When it is desired to couple two cars, they are shoved or placed together and the coupling action of the members X and Y occurs automatically. The wedge portion .fr spreads the hook extremities 'g3 g3 outward and laterally, thus permitting the wedge to enter the space Z, when the action of the springs D D will bring the hooks ys ys into engagement with the projections w3 ac3, thus locking X and Y together. Should the cars not be of the same level, the outer portion of X may be raised or lowered by the lever device C c c', and then secured by the keeper E.

To uncouple X and Y, the keeper E is turned and the part X is raised or turned out of engagement with the hooks of Y, when the cars may be pulled apart.

By having the hooks ys ys curved outwardly sufliciently the cars may be readily coupled on curves.

The keeper E is not absolutely essential for carrying out the main features of the invention and may be dispensed with.

Vhere a platform will not admit of the head X being turned up, the arms of Y may be opened to admit uncoupling by using a toggle-joint lever attachment, as indicated by the dotted lines at G G in Fig. 2.

To meet the emergency, when it is desired to couple a car having an ordinary head of the link type to-one having the head X, we preferably make the head X with a slot or opening H, adapted to receive the end of a link, and a vertical perforation or hole h for a coupling-pin.

It will thus be seen that our invention provides a very durable, simple, and effective device for the purposes for which it is in tended and which may be operated with safety and with very little skill.

What we claim is- 1. In a car-coupler, an arrow-like couplinghead pivotally connected to a draw-bar by a leaf or joint Z7, the said coupling-head being provided with means for raising or turning it in avertical plane, in combination with a coupling-head having laterally-movable jaws for engaging shoulders or projections of iirst head, substantially as set forth.

2. In a car-coupler, an arrow-like couplinghead pivotally connected to a draw-bar and a coupling-head having laterally-movable jaws for engaging the rst head, the said coupling-heads having their draw-bars 0r inward portions mounted or supported in brackets which carry buffers beneath the coupling parts, substantially as set forth.

3. In a car-coupler, an arrow-like head X and a head Y having double hooks or jaws, in combination with a movable keeper provided with means for preventing an up or down disengagement of said heads, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a car-coupler, an arrow-headed or wedge-shaped draw-head provided with hooks or shoulders, a double-hooked head adapted to engage the first head, and havinga transverse keeper adapted to retain the heads in a coupled position, as set forth.

5. In a car-coupler, an arrow-like couplinghead having its draw-bar supported by a bracket or frame carrying a buer beneath the coupling part, and a coupling-head h aving laterally-movable jaws for engaging first head and supported by a bracket or frame carrying a similar buffer, in combination with means for disengaging or uneoupling the heads, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 8th day of October, 1896.

- ALBERT FROMMANN.

. PHILIPP ENCK. lVitnesses:

J. B. HALPENNY, v K. F. HEssENMUELLER. 

